Wellll...

It's a pretty day here in England... sorta hahaha. 

My days are packed with appointments and we are so busy. I admire those who when faced with the adversary turn to the light of the gospel. This has been a view our mission president has seen as Satan takes extra time to attack those preparing to be baptized. He makes things very difficult for them and yet we see how prepared people here are. Heavenly Father is sending us some extremely talented people to bring into the gospel. 

Over the last 9 months my testimony has grown and I have had many experiences where I have seen the hand of God in the work! My favourite part of this whole mission thing is seeing how our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are at the helm of this ship and he is looking after us all. He has a plan for each one of us and has given us what we need to be successful. 

In my mission life it is such a blessing to be able to assist in this great work. I have been able to follow the prompting of the Holy Ghost this week. Leon has had some really rough times this past week. It is not so much trials directly on him, but it is more that his friends have had some hard times.  Since he is so nice and caring (extra caring since we met him ;)) he has felt the pain and the suffering of all his friend's pains and it's been hard for Leon.  Leon is literally a friend for life. I feel like we have helped him out so much. He really likes the temple and is excited to go!  

It is hard to explain all these experiences and share all I want to share in just a short email.

We played some games and went bowling as a district today.

Byyyeee,

Elder Pilling

Sent from the land of the lads

Hey Fam Jam

Well it's a bit of a blur this week. Just keep swimming was a common thought I had as we worked. Nothing happened in terms of finding new people to teach so it was slow. I spent an awesome day in my DL's area with Elder Tsosie who was in the same district as me back in Beverley so we've been on exchanges before... it was some good times. We seemed to miss the bus every time we went to catch it so lots of walking. And it was HOT hahah so good. 

My favourites for the week have got to be another meal from Leon, our investigator. We got a strawberry fresh cream cake! Man I died and went to heaven. Leon is doing really really well. We have so much in common, it is quite crazy at times. Best part of all is that we learn the same way so I just give him all the tips that I use when studying and it works! He even eats the same breakfast as me.... Wheatabix :) 

Elder Davies is doing well. He is slowly getting used to this crazy ward! There's a member named Michael who I have talked about before. But we did some hard core bargaining with him last night haha he is funny. 

Our investigators are Leon and George who are the most solid (as in we see them weekly if not more). Leon has a date for baptism set at August 12. He is 33 and pretty funny.  He has had some seriously tough moments in his life. Just so many things have happened.  He was taught by missionaries a few years ago but the elder who he really understood and got along with got moved, so that ended. One day we were walking down his street when Leon was prompted to talks to us. We had a short 5 min conversation with him and carried on with our day. 2-3 weeks later we were walking down a street and he was on the bus.  As it drove by we waved and were kinda laughing haha it's Leon. Then sure enough 8 minutes later he popped around the corner. He said once again "I feels like I need to talk to yous".  We gave him our number and he said he'd call. 2 weeks later and nothing. We had some spare time one day by his house and decided to drop by. Well that was an interesting meeting. He unloaded his life story. We testified of the peace, direction, and happiness following Jesus Christ can bring. He really felt the spirit as we shared experiences with him. And that is Leon. Now he has a date for baptism and boy is he excited.! He loves how grounded and happy the members of the church are and wants that for himself!

I have given much thought towards the organization of a mission and the leadership and the opportunities to grow and learn. A mission is the foundation on which a life of growth and happiness in the church is built upon. I want to share something I've been thinking about - being happily obedient. If you look at the commandments that we have received as restrictions and regulations and you always have in the back of your mind that it would be better without, let me tell you the grass is not greener on the other side. Life has challenges wether you are a member or not. It is tough! Now the gospel of Jesus Christ is there to ensure that we as spirit children will be able to live with our Heavenly Father again. Although we have a loving Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ, it does not mean that God will make our lives a walk in the park. We are here to grow and to learn. It is up to us wether or not we take it as a growth period. We can be bitter or dull when trials come our way or we can choose to be HAPPILY obedient to God's commandments and love the things he HAS given us. Take a moment to say a prayer and thank God for all he has given you. I think you'll be surprised 😊

I love all that you guys do for me. The prayers, the letters, the love- it all makes a difference to me!

A pic of my companion

Elder Davies (not sure what this is a pic of)

Love,

Elder Pilling

Sent from the land of the lads

New Companion

Fam friends fans,

Writing you from a loud double decker bus traveling to Leeds :)

Some stories of the week. Man, Friday I gained 5lbs probably. So there's a super nice 92 year old in the ward from Switzerland named brother Karl Kägi. Every 2 weeks he takes us to a Toby carvery.  So much food. So so much, but I can usually handle it ok. But Friday evening at 6 we went to our investigator's house for 🍝 spaghetti. He gave me enough to feed a small family. It was crazy. After a quick lesson with him he said ah I hope you have room, I bought a cheese cake from the eggless cake place..... BEST CHEESE CAKE I'VE EVER HAD. So that's me gaining weight like usual. 

Let's chat a little about my companion. He's 6'2" and about 19 stone hails from a village named Sandwich in Kent which is down south England. He and most of his family were baptized when he was 14 which was about 6 years ago. He has 2 sisters I think. One moved to Whistler to work at a hotel 2 weeks ago. He has about 4 months left on his mission! He's had loads of companions but most importantly he's already had an Albertan! And he also lived in the same flat as Elder Walker :) His interests are rugby. He injured his knee pretty bad so that's a bummer. We are running once again! Love it!

I did some of my finest door knocking I've ever done this week.... met a lady named Hayley who answered and said I don't believe, don't go to church, there's just no point. I taught and testified about how the gospel will bless her. At this point I didn't know much about her but the Holy Ghost guided me to talk about families. I testified how families can be together forever and how it has brought me so much peace and happiness knowing that truth. After she said ya ok I see how it can help me. 20 minutes later she's our newest investigator and is reading a little blue book we gave her! 

Leon is doing so well. He really really wants to do the right thing after all the wrongs he has done in his life. He is excited to be baptized but at the moment thinks he won't be ready. I said well you won't be until we teach you more about Jesus Christ! I've attached a few pics of him!

Also, yesterday I had to say goodbye to Simon and Daz.  They are moving to Nelson which is out of our area and out of our mission :/  Hope the missionaries will treat them well.

Leon

Simon and Daz

Raspberries!

Off to Ilkley, Guisley, Otley, and Menston for exchange today tomorrow and Wednesday. I am excited!

I have heard it's been hot! That must have been nice. Weather here isn't too shabby either, currently short sleeve and sweating. 

Byyyeee for now,

Elder Pilling :) 

Transfers!

Hello everyone.

We had transfers and it was crazy. Our zone leader got called to be assistant

Thursday.  His name is Elder Peck. His companion Elder Buckoff can't

drive here because he has no license, so we drove him around and tried to make

all our appointments.  It was crazy fun.

So I am staying in Keighley and my new companion is

Elder Davies from England! Seems like a good guy. I am really excited.

Some good goal setting and some really good investigators too.

Found an old guy who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident. He is still in

pain. He describes it as an elephant stomping on his foot (that isn't there)

while someone is stabbing his knee with a knife. So when we met him ( 3

months ago) he said I don't believe in God. Then over the past 3 months he

has began to accept that there is a god and that God has a Plan for him. He

said I think I need to take a step into the fog. He was referring to

step of faith. He said this on Saturday. His step of faith was church.

He attended sacrament and really liked it!

Also on Saturday we found a guy named Leon! He left the church a few years

ago but things have happened in his life that have lead him back to

church. Although he is going through some serious trials, he has looked

for God to help him! He loved church and stayed all 3 hours. Loooved

it.

Now the important thing is, I love this church. Reading up on the

mission presidents seminar I have noticed how important it is to

recognize that the work is hastening. It is not a next year thing, it

is now. Everyone needs to hear the restored gospel now. People are

more prepared than ever before. I have been called to serve. Assigned

to England Leeds Keighley area with President Turvey guiding us. The

Holy Ghost is my most important companion.  Reading the simple

but powerful faith that Joseph Smith had is what started this last

dispensation. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer and he loves us.

Hope everyone enjoys the Stampede and summer. Catch ya mates next week!

Michael our member friend
 

Elder  Pilling 

Sent from the land of lads